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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

£14k Stanfields benefit cheat Ethiopian Kuku Alemu lived with partner

AN IMMIGRANT who fraudulently claimed more than £14,200 in benefits has avoided jail.

Ethiopian Kuku Alemu failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Stoke-on-Trent City Council that her partner Robert Aklilo was living with her.

The mother-of-two, of Crossley Road, Stanfields, submitted a legitimate claim in 2007 stating that she was a lone parent.

However an investigation revealed that Mr Aklilo, who is the father to her two children, had later moved into the property.

North Staffordshire Magistrates heard that Mr Aklilo had given the address as his home to two employers. The pair had also set up a joint bank account where the address was once again used.

Alemu, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to failing to notify a change of circumstances but was convicted following a trial.

Paul Key, prosecuting, said: "It started as a legitimate claim in 2007 on the basis that she was a lone parent with no savings and no source of income and so she also received housing and council tax benefit.

"The payments started to her bank account on the basis she would report any change in circumstances.

"She failed to report that she commenced living with a Robert Aklilo."

Yesterday, the court was told Mr Aklilo registered the address when opening various bank accounts.

He also paid for a Virgin Media account where the Stanfields address was used. Analysis of the records revealed cash transfers between the couple's accounts.